Accused contributor gave to two Gaston lawmakers (update)

Two Gaston County lawmakers accepted campaign donations from an Oklahoma man facing racketeering charges in Florida, according to a campaign finance reform group.

Staff reports

UPDATE: Rep. John Torbett stated via Twitter that he would donate the contribution he received from Chase Burns to a local charity. He did not specify the charity.

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Two Gaston County lawmakers accepted campaign donations from an Oklahoma man facing racketeering charges in Florida, according to a campaign finance reform group.

Democracy North Carolina says International Internet Technologies owner Chase Burns was the top donor to the state’s legislators over the last two years.

He is embroiled in controversy over illegal gambling-parlor accusations.

State Sen. Kathy Harrington, who represents Gaston County, received $4,000 from Chase.

She said Monday she would donate the money to a local charity but had not yet decided which one.

N.C. Rep. John Torbett, who represents Gaston County in the 108th House District, is listed as the recipient of $2,500.

Torbett did not return a call seeking comment Monday.

Legislators elsewhere have said after racketeering allegations came to light they gave Chase’s donations to charity.

Democracy North Carolina revealed the donation amounts attributed to Burns following its review of both electronic and paper campaign finance reports. The total amount, $230,000, is $75,000 more than what was reported when Burns was arrested last week.

He’s accused of owning parlors that were operated by a purported Florida-based charity. Prosecutors there have said while Allied Veterans of the World ran the parlors, veterans only got about 2 percent of the $300 million in gambling profits.

Burns’ company is called International Internet Technologies. It has been part of an ongoing legal battle by video sweepstakes companies to make the games legal in North Carolina.

In December, the state Supreme Court upheld a ban on video sweepstakes games, which can award cash prizes to players.

Gov. Pat McCrory used to work for a Charlotte law firm that lobbied for the company until last week. McCrory says he had no contact with Burns. His campaign gave $8,000 donated by Burns and his wife to a Durham homeless ministry.